Feeler device for filling-replenishing looms.



A. E. RHOADESA FEELEH DEVICE FOR FILLING REPLENISHING LOOMS. APPLICATION FILED NovA 28, 1914.

1,16*?,364- Patented Jan-4, 1916.

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30/ Md@ 1M@ y FEELEBy DEVICE FILLING-REPLENSHE LOMS.

Speciicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan., 4t,

To all Lc/0m t may concern Be it know that l, lltonzo E. lli-rowers, a citizen of the United States, residing' at Hopedale, county of lWorcester, and fltate of Massachusetts, have invented an improvement in Feeler Devices for Filling-Kopienishing Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying' drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings repiesentingh like parts.

rllhe invention hereinafter described relates to filling' replenishinpg looms, and more particularly to devices of such looms for detect` ing' substantial exhaustion of filling' the shuttle and thereupon to initiate filling' replenishment.

As well understood by those skilled in the art, Various forms of feeler devices have been devised for acting( upon the filling' in the shuttle, and upon the occurrence of substantial exhaustion thereof, have set in operation certain trains of mechanisms to secure filling replenishment when the shuttle has reached the replenishing' side of the loom. ln some of these cases, the feeler device has comprised two members, one an impinging member to impinge against the mass of filling on the carrier in the shuttle and the other a penetratingl member having' a penetrating' portion to penetrate or sink into the filling on the forward movement of the lay following` a detecting' pick, the said two members being so related that upon substantial exhaustion of the filling, filling` replenishment was initiated. l'n this type of feeler device, it is desirable to provide the penetrating member with two penetrating portions separated in a direction lonlejitudinally7 of the fillings; carrier in the shuttle, so that if either of the two penetrating portions of the penetrating member should engage the hard surface of the bobbin or carrier, the desired action 'would take place as set forth in the Roper Patent No. 821,123, dated May 22, 1906; and devices of this character have, to a large extent, worked satisfactorily, The character of the fillingJ and its condition on the carrier, however, is not always uniform. A hard place not infrequently occurs in a working supply of filling', caused bysome foreign substance being` carried along' with the yarn as it is spun and wound upon the carrier, or a variation in the yarn itself. Regardless of the particular cause for such hard place,

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should it be presented opposite one of the penetrating' portions of the feeler, it will act upon the feelcr in substantially the same way that the hard body of the cai 'er itself acts upon substantial einiaustion of the lillinp; and call for filling' replenishment, with the result that a larger amount of yarn will be on the carrier or bobbin when it is ejected than is desirable.

lilith the above matters in mind, the present intention aims to provide means for overcoming' the objectionable operations described and economiztiney in the mount of waste on filling` carriers discharged from the loom incident to the filling' replcnishingv operation.

rEhe various features of the present invention will best be made clear from the following' description and accompanying' drawing of one form of means for c: rryina the invention into practical effect, it being' understood that chanfges and variations may be made in details yithout departing' :trom the true scope of the actual invention.

in the drawings -llig'ure l is a plan view of a feeler device embodying the present invention, and shcnvina` parts of the shuttle, shuttle-box, and the filling' carrier harina a working supply of filling; Fig. 2 is a side elevation and part section of the feeler device and filling' carrier on the line 2 2, Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig'. l with parts omitted and showing the filling on the carrier practically exhausted; Ll is a sectional elevation on line Ll fr, Fie; 3; l? 5 is a plan view substantially as in Fig. l, showing' the action of the feelerrwhen a hard place is presented to one of the penetrating portions of the penetrating? member while there still remains a working' supply of filling on the carrier; Fig. t3 is a sectional elevation on the line @-6, Fig. 5; and Fi 7 is a detached detail of the parts of the penetratingV member and its cooperating` element.

is hereinbefore noted, the present invention is adapted for application to a :so-called filling replenishing loom, wherein, upon substantial exhaustion of the filling' in the running shuttle, a fresh supply of filling is placed therein. To those skilled in the art, the filling replenishing mechanism and its general characteristics and operations are well understood and need not therefore, be

herein shown and described, the parts for initiating` filling replenishment being sulficiently exploited, to make clear the characteristics of the invention.

The shuttle S, Fig'. l, is provided in its side Wall. with an opening :Z and the shuttlebox fr is likewise provided with an opening; l, the said openings being adapted for registration when the shuttle carryingthe filling $5 is properly boxed at the filling' replenishing' side of the loom, all as usnal in the socalled class of feeler looms.

Mounted in suitable position preferably upon a front portion of the loom framework, a stand for supporting the feeler device, the said stand comprising' a base portion t and a cover 5 adapted to be held in associated relation and in position on the loom frame by suitable means such as the screws G. Rising from the said stand is an arm 7 providing a gnideway 8 for directing movement of the controller 9, which is or may be operatively connected with suitable means for positioning the parts to cause filling replenishment upon the forward movement of the lay and under conditions Well understood by those skilled in the art.

Between the base portion it and the cover 5 of the stand, there is formed a chamber for the reception of the stem 9K carried by a feeler slide l0, the said slide l0 having a shouldered portion il against which bears one end of a spring l2, the other end of which is seated upon the end Wall of the cover -the construction being such that the spring l2 normally holds the feeler slide l0 in rearward position, substantially as indicated in Fig. l, but permittingl the feeler slide to be moved toward the front of the loom, or to the right, Fig. l, upon the advancing movement of the lay when the shuttle is in the box at the replenishing side of the loom.

The present invention contemplates that the feeler device shall comprise an impingn ing and a penetrating member, the latter being provided with a penetrating element to penetrate or sink into the filling as the lay beats up, so long as there is a Workingl supply of filling` in the shuttle, and to contact with the more dense surface of the filling carrier when the filling has been practically exhausted to thereby initiate filling replenishment.

In the present form of the invention, the impinging member is primarily formed by the head i3, the edge surface lll of which is adapted to engage the mass of filling on the carrier While the penetrating member is formed of two relatively or independently movable parts l5 having the penetrating portions 16 to sink into the mass of filling when a Working supply is present, and to Contact with the more dense surface of the filling carrier when the filling has been practically exhausted. In connection with the tvvo relatively movable penetrating portions of the penetrating member, thereV is provided means adapted to permit such relative movement of said portions as the ay beats up, without causing` initiation of lilling replenishment, and to effect initiation of such filling replenishment when saio. relatively movable portions are mov jointly or simultaneously. ln Carrn Y feature of the invention into prac feet, there is mounted upon the lilll l0 at the rear portion thereof, the having extending bracket portions i secured to said slide by suitable mean as the pins 19. Between the plate l? and rear portion of the filling slide, suit guidewavs are formed for two rela movable portions l5 of the penetrating; member; and to this end the plate j' is pA ovided on each side of its central portion through which pass the pins 19 for securing it in place upon the feeler slide, With suiti able guidevvays in which are slidably mounted for relative and independent movement, the two portions l5 of the penetrating nember. The portions l5 of the penetrating member are preferably formed as indicated in Fig. l, each one being` provided with a penetrating part or point lo, adapted to sink into the mass of filling, and from such penetri-ating point, the portions l5 extend toward the front and are provided with heads 2l, adapted to bear ao'ainst a rocking.;` member pivotally mounted upon a pin 23 extending' from the hub of a fine'er pivoted at QG to the bracket portions of the plate 17.

The finger is provided with an operating end portion 2'? and is normally under the influence of a spring-actuatet pin 28 movable in a guide-Way 29, the construction being such that the finger 25 has its end.

portion 2T normally depressed andthe end portions of the rocker 2:2 forced against the heads of the portions i5 of the pei etii'ating member, substantially as indicated in Fig. 2.

l? rom the construction described, it will be seen that in the present form of the invention, the points iti of the relatively movable portions l5 of the penetrating member, will be normally held projected beyond the impinging member, and upon forward movement of the lay, when the shuttle is in the box at the filling replenishir,g` side of the loom, as indicated in Fig. l, and contains a Working' supply of filling, that the penetrating,y points 1G will first enganje the filling 2 and penetrate or sink thereinto, and upon further forward movement of the lay, the filling will be engaged by the impinging' surface li of the impingina member, with the result that the feeler slide will be moved toward the front of the loom Without disturbing the inoperative position of the iin- `rer 25, as indicated in Fig. 2. When, however, the filling has become practically exiro interesa hausted, as indicated in Figs. 3 and l, the impinging parts 16 will engage the more dense surface of the bobbin and on forward movement of the lay, Will be moved simultaneously or in unison, toward the fro-nt 'of the loom, thereby bodily moving the rocker @and tmrning the linger into operative position With-respect to the controller 9; and upon further forward movement of the lay, the inipinging member 13 will contact with the lilling on the carrier and the feeler slide be moved frontvvard to therebyT engage the end ofthe linger 25 with the controller 9, and initiate filling replenishment. Should the Working mass of filling 3 contain a relatively hard portion 30 with which one of' the penetrating` points 20 contacts as the lay beats up, as indicated in lFigs. 5 and G, said penetrating point 2O and its associated portions l5 of the penetrating` member Will be forced forward into the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 5, independent of the other penetrating portion l5 of the penetrating member, thereby turning the rocker on its axis Without moving the linger 25 into operative position, so that upon further forward movement of the lay, and perforce, the filling slide, filling replenisl'nnent will not be initiated.

Rin important feature of the present invention, therefore, consists in the penetrating` member formed of a. plurality of parts having penetrating portions and adapted for independent or relative movement Without initiating filling replenishment, but operative upon conjoint or simultaneous movement, to effect lling replenishment; and `vvhile the present invention has been herein exploited by the embodiment shovvn and described, it vvill be evident that it is adapt` able to any feeler device ivherein initiation of filling replenishment is dependent upon the different densities of the substance with which the. parts of the penetratini member are adapted to contact.

'lll'lhat is claimed is l. ln a. filling replenishing; loom, the combination of a shuttle to contain a filling carrier, means to initiate filling replenishment. a feeler comprising an impinging member and a. plurality of penetrating members` means in cooperative relation to each of said penetrating members and operatively positioned to effect filling replenishment by simultaneous movement of said penetrating members relative to the impinging member and remaining ineffectual to initiate filling `replenishmert 'when only one oi 'tde penetrating` members is moved relatively to the impinging member by a denser portion of the Working filling.

2. ln a filling replenishing loom, the combination of a shuttle adapted to contain a carrier or bobbin having a supply of lilling Wound thereon, means to initiate filling resaid Vienetrating )ortions when the fillino t. C

.has become practically exhausted and remaining ineffective for the actuation of said means when said penetrating portions are moved independently.

2l. ln a. feeler device for looms, the combination of an impinging member and a penetrating member, said penetrating mem'- ber having tivo independently movable pene trating portions, and means to initiate filling replenishment opi-natively positioned only upon simultaneous movement of said tvvo penetrating portions relative to the impinging member when the filling in the shuttle has become practically ezfhausted.

ln a feeler device for looms, the combination of an imjiiinging member and tivo relatively movable penetrating members, a finger .for initiating filling replenishment,

vmeans between the linger and penetrating' members to operatively position the finger upon movement of both said penetrating members relative to the impinging member and to permit the said linger to remain in inoperative position when only one of said penetrating members is moved relative to the impin ging member.

5. In a feeler device for looms, the combination of an impinging member and a penetrating member, said penetrating member being carried by the impinging member and comprising t'vvo separated and relatively movable penetrating portions, a rocher cooperating with said penetrating portions, and means connected to said rocker for initiatingl filling replenishment upon substantial exhaustion of the lling.

(i. ln a filling replenishing loom. the combination of a shuttle to contain a filling carrier or bobbin, a feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle and comprising an impinging member and a penetratingmember, said penetrating member being formed of 'two relatively movable parts each provided with a penetrating end adapted to sink into the filling at parated points and be relatively moved by different densities of the vvorliing lilling opposite said tvvo parts and means operative only on simultaneous movement of said tivo parts to effect filling replenishment.

7. ln a iilling replenishing loom, the combination of a shuttle to contain a filling carrier or bobbin, a feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle and comprising an impinging member and penetrating member, said penetrating member being formed of tivo relatively movable parts, each provided with a penetrating end adapted to sinlt into the filling at separated points, a rocker adapted to be rocked by either of said tivo parts and to be moved bodily by movement of said All() ing in the shuttle, and including an imping- Y ing member and a penetrating member, said penetrating member comprising two relatively movable parts each having a penetrating portion, and filling replenishment in- 'itiating means remaining inoperative to Cause filling replenishment by movement of' one of' said two parts and rendered effective to initiate filling replenishment upon simultaneous movement of said two parts.

9. In a filling replenishing loom, a shuttle adapted to contain a filling carrier having filling wound thereon, a feeler including an impinging member and two relatively mov able penetrating portions to sink into the filling when a working supply is present in the shuttle, means operative upon simultapinging member and a penetrating member,

said penetrating member comprising two in dependently movableV portions, a pivotally mounted finger, a rocker interposed between. saidV finger and penetrating member and movable by said two portions of the penetrating member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALONZO E. RHOADES.

Witnesses FRANK B. DAVIS, DANA OsGooD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

